Crunchyroll has secured global distribution rights for the highly anticipated upcoming film from acclaimed anime director Makoto Shinkai.
The streaming platform will partner with Sony Pictures Entertainment to co-distribute the untitled project worldwide, excluding most of Asia. However, India will be included in the Western territory release. As of now, Crunchyroll has kept the film’s title, storyline, and release window strictly under wraps.
Although details about the project are virtually nonexistent, Shinkai boasts a stellar track record as one of the most successful creators in modern anime. His 2016 breakout hit, Your Name, became a global milestone by grossing $358 million worldwide. It was followed by Weathering With You in 2019, which brought in $193 million, and Suzume in 2022, which earned roughly $323 million. All three titles sit comfortably among the highest-grossing anime films in history.
This new venture mirrors the release strategy used for Suzume, which was also jointly managed by Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures. That film achieved notable international success, premiering in competition at the Berlin International Film Festival, grossing over $10 million in U.S. theaters, and securing a Golden Globe nomination for Best Animated Feature.
Historically, the 53-year-old director has maintained a consistent production pace, releasing a new movie roughly every three years (Your Name in 2016, Weathering With You in 2019, and Suzume in 2022). With fans eagerly awaiting his next move, Shinkai offered a hint in a New Year’s social media post this past January, teasing that he would finally reveal concrete details about the project sometime this year.
For Crunchyroll, this partnership further solidifies its position as the leading Western distributor for Japanese animation. The Sony-owned platform currently holds the rights to 12 of the top 20 highest-grossing anime releases in U.S. history, a powerhouse lineup that includes last year’s global phenomenon, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle.